Jasper National Park warns of forecasted spring storm
A spring storm expected to hit Jasper National Park on Easter Sunday is prompting precautionary road closures, officials say.
Maligne Lake Road and the Icefields Parkway will be closed April 9 as a spring storm moves through the area.
According to Environment Canada, overnight rain Saturday will continue the next day. While temperatures will remain above zero at the ground, snow is expected to fall at the upper mountain ranges.
"This will increase the avalanche hazard and may require avalanche control work," Parks Canada said in a statement. "Control work will take place after the storm has passed and conditions are safe to do so."
"Backcountry users planning the Pat Schehan traverse or Panther Falls hike on Sunday should reschedule their plans."
Maligne Lake Road will be closed Sunday at 7 a.m. from Maligne Hostel to Maligne Lake. Parks Canada says the Maligne Canyon and hostel will remain accessible to the public.
The park expects the road to reopen Monday.
The Icefields Parkway will close Sunday at 3 p.m. from Parker Ridge to Saskatchewan River Crossing. Parks Canada said the closure may last between four hours to overnight, depending on snow levels.
"During the spring months, warming conditions can cause frequent short-notice delays," the national park authority added. "If you're heading into the backcountry, be aware that avalanche hazards will increase in the afternoon as daytime warming weakens the upper snowpack.
"Pay attention to how quickly the day is warming up and to the changing snow conditions on sunny aspects."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
The Indian couple killed in a wrong-way police chase crash on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.